After the insoles were burned, Wang Chunlan left.

Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen went up to the balcony on the second floor. The matter was temporarily settled, but Chen Baozhen didn’t feel relieved. It felt as if a heavy stone was weighing on her chest, and she couldn’t bring herself to smile.

“Yaoyao, am I really that bad? Before, they always compared me to Bai Qiuling from next door, saying I wasn’t as good as her. Now this widow shows up. I’ve already lent her money, and she’s the one who owes money. Yet they keep making it seem like I’m the one being unreasonable, bullying her because she’s pitiful. If I were really bullying her, I’d demand she pay me back!”

Chen Baozhen rambled in frustration, but deep down, she was also feeling uneasy. Wang Chunlan brought the insoles to Gao Jianguo, saying they were for her late husband. When Chen Baozhen threw them on the ground and caused a scene, others would think she was insulting the dead.

In their culture, the dead were always respected. Even if Wang Chunlan’s behavior was inappropriate, she was a widow, and few would criticize or mock her. But Chen Baozhen, acting high-handed, would inevitably become the target of public scorn.

“Since I came here, I’ve never harmed anyone. I don’t gossip behind people’s backs, and I don’t pick fights. Why does everyone keep attacking me? Why do they dislike me?” Chen Baozhen felt wronged and angry, yet powerless to change anything.

Her tall, nearly 1.7-meter frame made her stand out in the compound. She was taller than most men, giving her an imposing presence over the other wives. With her pretty shoulder-length hair and long face, her slightly upward-slanting eyes made her seem unapproachable.

Although her appearance was proud, her personality was far softer. She came from the city and hadn’t endured much hardship. Even when others took advantage of her, she would just frown but never fuss, letting things go without a second thought.

So, when she felt wronged, she bore it silently, only to find that others still “persecuted” her.

The warm wind blew on her face, as if a desert torture, the hot air and sand cutting her skin painfully, leaving her feeling frustrated and unsettled.

“Zhenzhen,” Qin Yao said, looking up at her from the side. From an outsider’s perspective, Qin Yao could understand why Chen Baozhen wasn’t popular in the compound. Compared to the other wives, she seemed too distant, hard to integrate with, naturally creating a sense of opposition.

Chen Baozhen felt wronged and had never actively sought trouble. She believed she had been as accommodating as possible. But others saw her as condescending, feeling she looked down on them.

Wang Chunlan targeted Chen Baozhen and Gao Jianguo today because the couple was wealthy. Since Chen Baozhen wasn’t well-liked in the compound, few would stand up for her when conflicts arose.

The reasoning was clear, and Qin Yao could understand it. Instinctively, she wanted to speak up and comfort Chen Baozhen, helping her analyze the situation and offer suggestions for resolving the issue.

However, just as she was about to say something, Qin Yao noticed that Chen Baozhen had raised her chin high, resembling a graceful and proud swan. Yet, the area around her eyes was red, the corners slightly swollen, and her pupils were filled with tears.

Seeing this, Qin Yao’s heart tightened, and the words she had prepared seemed to get stuck in her throat.

Did Chen Baozhen really want advice from her, her closest friend, about how to solve this? Was that what she sought—solutions from a friend?

The thoughts in Qin Yao’s mind were like detached, logical analysis, filled with theoretical solutions that seemed cold and impersonal. They felt like something an AI might suggest.

Qin Yao realized that the proper answers felt distant, like something an AI would deliver.

Back in 2024, before she had crossed over, AI had been rapidly advancing. Its algorithms were becoming more sophisticated, and many feared that AI would surpass human intelligence.

AI possessed immense computational power, capable of analyzing pros and cons to find optimal solutions.

But Qin Yao wasn’t AI. She was a living, breathing person and Chen Baozhen’s best friend. As a friend, her primary responsibility was not to analyze the situation for her or offer advice, but to comfort and be there for her.

Humans could truly empathize with each other.

Qin Yao sensed that Chen Baozhen was deeply upset. If she were in Chen Baozhen’s shoes, she would need understanding, support, and comfort from a good friend, not just rational advice.

“Zhenzhen, you’ve done your best,” Qin Yao softened her tone, moving closer to embrace her. “None of this is your fault.”

Chen Baozhen hugged her back, tears streaming down her face, but instead of feeling worse, she felt a warmth surrounding her. The wind seemed to soften, brushing Qin Yao’s hair across her chin.

All the frustration, anger, and resentment disappeared in that moment.

After the heavy rain, what filled her heart was peace and a quiet joy.

The two sat hand in hand on the balcony, much like two young girls, about seven or eight years old, sitting by the roadside. Chen Baozhen said, “As long as you understand me, that’s all that matters.”

“I don’t care about anyone else.”

Qin Yao smiled as she turned her head. She noticed how Chen Baozhen’s face, after wiping away her tears, was like a little pear. Her smile, cool yet warm, reminded her of pear blossoms after the rain—clear, cold, yet carrying the warmth of spring.

Her heart basked in the warmth of the sun. Though it seemed like she hadn’t done much, and her words hadn’t changed the situation, comforting Chen Baozhen made her heart feel full.

Chen Baozhen had given her the feeling of being valued and needed.

It made her feel that her very existence was valuable.

This was something her parents had never made her feel. They made her feel unimportant, like an accessory in the household, a tool for their display of pride.

Coming here, with Chen Baozhen and Gu Cheng, two people who cared deeply for her, she felt nurtured by their affection. The warmth she received from their care brought her physical comfort, and interacting with them provided spiritual joy and fulfillment.

She seemed to have understood that to love someone, you must be able to empathize with them.

“Yaoyao, I still need to think of a solution. What if Wang Chunlan comes again? How should I handle her? Can you offer some advice?”

Qin Yao pulled her downstairs. “Come on, I’ll take you to see the director of women’s affairs.”

The two left, not allowing the men to follow. Gu Cheng and Gao Jianguo stayed in the house, staring at each other in silence.

Gu Cheng, arms crossed, leaned against the wall, feeling uneasy. His available time was limited, and squeezing in time to spend with Qin Yao was his top priority.

With two men sitting there, it was frustrating and uncomfortable. He didn’t want to leave, afraid that Qin Yao would return and be upset with him. Of course, it was good when she got angry—it meant she cared about him.

But deep down, he didn’t want to leave because he still wanted to see her.

The thought of seeing her again soon was like a carrot hanging in front of a donkey, something he couldn’t let go of.

Gu Cheng paced back and forth uneasily for a few minutes. As he passed by Gao Jianguo, he kicked the leg of his chair.

Gao Jianguo stumbled, almost losing his sewing needle, and straightened up, looking confused. “Commander Gu, what are you doing?”

In his mind, Gu Cheng was a serious and cold officer, always excelling in every task. He rarely showed emotion, symbolizing his calm and steady nature.

Gu Cheng: “…”

He was about to lose his mind.

“Baozhen and Xiao Qin will be back soon,” Gao Jianguo muttered, returning to his sewing with patience. This task required focus and care.

Having married Chen Baozhen, Gao Jianguo often saw her at home, even sleeping in the same bed at night. Being apart for a while didn’t bother him. After all, tthere was still so much time in the night anyway… so he couldn’t empathize.

A full man doesn’t understand the hunger of the hungry man.

Gu Cheng glanced at his watch. Only five minutes had passed, but it felt like an eternity.

His gaze swept over Gao Jianguo. The more he looked at him, the more annoyed he became. He didn’t like the Gao couple at all. Why don’t you go cling to your wife, you useless man? Don’t let your wife cling to mine!

Ahem, they weren’t even married yet.

It was still the cold probation period.

*

Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen arrived at the Women’s Director’s office. The director, named Liao, was a warm-looking, slightly plump woman with short hair, a round face, and thick lips.

“Director Liao, hello.”

“Ah, it’s Teacher Chen.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chen Baozhen said, “Director Liao, I’d like to report something about Wang Chunlan.”

Director Liao’s eyes flickered, and her mind quickly processed the situation. She realized this was a complaint. “Comrade Wang… sigh, Teacher Chen, given such a change in circumstances, whatever happens, please be understanding of her,” she said.

“Yes, I understand her,” Chen Baozhen continued. “I hope the organization can pay more attention to Wang Chunlan and her family.”

Director Liao was stunned.

Chen Baozhen added, “She borrowed one or two hundred yuan from my family before, and I heard she borrowed from several others as well. Everyone knows her family is in difficulty, but where has all that money gone?”

“Director Liao, you should really pay more attention to her. Something must have happened at her hometown to need so much money. Could it be that some ill-intentioned people have taken advantage of her, bullying her and her family, leaving them vulnerable?”

“If Old Xu hears about this, he will be heartbroken.”

Director Liao’s face grew serious, and she nodded. “I’ll look into it carefully.”

After leaving Director Liao’s office, Chen Baozhen sighed in relief. She was curious about what happened to Wang Chunlan’s money. It wasn’t about the money itself. She was more interested in uncovering the truth.

When she returned to the Gao family house, it was already late. Gu Cheng escorted Qin Yao back to the hospital. The two walked side by side toward the exit. Qin Yao was still thinking about what happened on the balcony, and she couldn’t help but laugh as she shared her thoughts. “Commander Gu, Baozhen is so cute!”

Gu Cheng’s mind immediately went blank, and his stomach churned with frustration. All the suppressed anger he had been holding back burst out.

Baozhen, Baozhen… she calls her Baozhen, but when addressing him, she uses “Commander Gu” and says she’s cute. What does that have to do with him?

“Baozhen really is cute.” Qin Yao smiled, remembering the warmth of the hug earlier. She reached up and rubbed her chin, glancing at Gu Cheng’s face. His jawline was smooth and sharp, unbelievably handsome.

When he wasn’t showing any expression, he appeared so cold and capable. Qin Yao knew that under this indifferent exterior, there was a passionate heart, which she could tell from the three-line poems he wrote.

Before, Qin Yao couldn’t guess Gu Cheng’s thoughts. Now, she was trying to think from his perspective. If she were in his shoes…

This introverted man, looking cold on the outside, actually liked being close to her, but he restrained himself in public. His personality was a bit awkward, and he was naive enough to think she liked the “Commander Gu” version of him.

If the mountain does not come to me, I will come to the mountain.

To others, it seemed like they were in a relationship. Qin Yao glanced around but didn’t see anyone else. It wasn’t a big deal to hold hands or lightly touch his hand to show affection.

She quickly walked ahead and reached out to touch his hand, but just as she was about to make contact, he stepped aside, and they were a meter apart. Qin Yao missed the touch.

Qin Yao: “?!”

Gu Cheng let out a silent snort, walking ahead with precise steps, exuding an aura of strength.

Qin Yao stared at him, irritated. What was going on in his mind? Why was he so hot and cold?